The Member of Parliament for Krachi Nchumuru, Solomon Kuyon, has moved for the establishment of a National Youth Development Fund, describing it as a structural necessity to bridge the gap between youthful ambition and economic reality.
In a compelling statement on the floor of Parliament, the MP argued that while the Ghanaian youth possess “boundless imagination,” their potential is currently being stifled by a lack of accessible, patient, and empowering capital. He characterized the current state of youth innovation as a “national engine” that is idling, waiting for the necessary investment to be ignited.
Moving Beyond “Patchwork” Interventions
Kuyon noted that previous attempts at youth empowerment have often been a patchwork of short-term programs that, while well-intentioned, lack the scale and sustainability required to address a challenge of this magnitude. He observed that these initiatives often provide temporary relief without building permanent pathways to prosperity.
To remedy this, he proposed that the new Fund be established by an Act of Parliament as a professionally managed, politically independent national endowment. Such a structure, he argued, would insulate the fund from the rigors of political cycles and command the confidence of the private sector and international development partners.
A Strategic Three-Tier Investment Framework
The legislator outlined a strategic three-pillar framework for the Fund, designed to support every stage of a young entrepreneur’s journey. The foundational pillar focuses on seed capital, providing micro-grants and concessionary loans for those aged 18 to 35 to launch their first ventures, such as a baker needing an equipment upgrade in Chindiri or a fisherman in Kete-Krachi purchasing nets.
This is followed by a second pillar for scale-up financing, which would offer venture capital to promising youth-led small and medium-sized enterprises that have demonstrated viability and have the potential to become significant employers.
The third pillar addresses the reality that capital alone is insufficient; it provides dedicated grants for modern apprenticeships, vocational training, and the establishment of innovation hubs in every region. This ensures that the skills taught to the youth are directly linked to the demands of a 21st-century economy, supporting both traditional master craftsmen and the next generation of tech innovators.
A Call for Bipartisan Consensus
Stressing that the challenge of youth unemployment “does not wear the colors of the NDC or the NPP,” Solomon Kuyon called for the immediate formation of a bipartisan working group to draft the enabling legislation.
To ensure the Fund’s long-term sustainability, he suggested exploring dedicated levies on the profits of the extractive and telecommunications sectors and industries that benefit immensely from Ghana’s national resources and markets. He also advocated for a dedicated multi-year budgetary allocation from the state to build an endowment that would serve generations of Ghanaians to come.
Concluding his statement, Kuyon addressed the youth of Krachi Nchumuru and the wider nation directly, asserting that their success is inextricably linked to the success of Ghana. He declared that the youth are not merely the leaders of tomorrow but are “leaders of today,” currently waiting for the tools to build a better nation.
He urged the Ninth Parliament to be remembered not for its divisions, but for its unity of purpose in taking a bold and historic step to fund the future of the next generation.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
